Chemical treatment feed indicator



Jul' 18, 1950 A. KROMHOUT 2,515,235

CHEMICAL TREATMENT FEED INDICATOR Filed Dec. 7, 1945 Patented July 18,1950 CHEMICAL TREATMENT FEED INDICATOR Andrew Kromhout, Elgin, Ill.,assignor to Elgin ySoftener Corporation, Elgin, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application December 7, 1945, serial No. 633,505

`10 clams.

This invention relates to anew and improved chemical treatment feedindicator for use in connection with the delivery of a liquid chemicalreagentv into a line, drop by drop, or in a steady stream underadjustable control, the reagent so introduced being'a water softeningagent,steriliz ing agent, coagulating agent, or the like.

I am aware that treatment feed indicators showing the drop by dropfeeding of chemicals are old, but most of those heretofore devised havebeen objectionable for one reason or another and required too frequentservicing to obtain accurate and reliable indications of therate offeed,

and in most cases, the operator was forced toy rely to a large extentupon guesswork and approximation. It is,there fore, the principal objectof my invention to rprovide a treatment feed indicator of simple andeconomical construction incorporating a sight feed and flowcontrolfvalve in conjunction therewith, enabling the operator to checkaccurately the rate of feed andmake accurate adjustments as conditionsrequire. Y

In the treatment feed indicator of my invention an indicator uid such asa white-mineral oil is used in the sight tube so that the rate of flowvin the water line to the treatment feeder on the.

outlet side of the sight tube, and, inasmuch as the indicator fluid islighter thanwater and `will not mix with it, .the indicator, when onceproperly installed will operate indefinitely without requiringattention.

The invention is illustrated in ing drawing, in which Fig. l is a frontview of a tank with the treatment feed indicator of my invention shownas installed in the waterV supply line thereto;

Fig. 2 is a larger size View of the treatment feed indicator, and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the feed indicator on the line 3-3of Fig. 2 on a still further enlarged scale, this view beingapproximately two-thirds full size.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding 4partsthroughout the views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 4 designates thetreatment feeder tank in which the level of the liquid chemical reagentbeing used for a given system is indicated by 'a float 5 in a sighttube. Water from the operating'water supply source is conducted to thetank 4 through axpipe 6, and. as will soon appear, the rate of its theaccompanytreatment feeder delivery into the tank 4 is indicated by thedevice l of my invention-the treatment feed indicatorby the dropsl ofwater which can be easily seen through the sight tube 8. The rate offlow I of the water admitted to the tank 4 is regulated by aflow-control valve 9, and the water entering the tank 4 displaces theliquid chemical reagent from said tank at a corresponding rate throughthe pipe ID.

The tank is divided by a partition Il into an upper mixing chamber and alower pressure chamber. The top cover I2 is hinged to swing open forcharging the mixing chamber with chemical. The cover is then closed andsteam and/ or wateradmitted through valves 40 and 4I.

After this mixing, these Valves are closed and valve 42 is opened,allowing the batch to flow by gravity into the pressure chamber. Valve42 is then closed and valves 9 and 43 are opened to start the feeding.Pipe 6 leads from' an upstream point in the water main and pipe Il) to adownstream point in said main. 44 is a drain valve and 45 is an air ventvalve for the pressure chamber. 45 is an overflow pipe for the mixingchamber.

' Referring ynowmore particularly to Figs. 2 and 3 illustrating thetreatment feed indicator l, the sight tube 8 is clamped between top andbottom covers I3 and I4 by the tightening of tie-'rods I5 to obtain awater-tight joint at both ends of the tube where the rubber gaskets I6are provided. A T-Iitting I1, forming a part of the inlet pipeconnections, hasa'nipple 48 threaded in the laterally" projecting branchthereof, and threaded in L a hollow boss 49 provided on the top cover I3whereby to support the sight tube assemblyA on the water supply pipe 6which threads into the upwardly projecting branch of the T-tting I1 asindicated. The downwardly projecting branch of the T-tting l'icommunicates with a pipe I8 and with an yinlet shut-off'valve I9, andthe pipe I8 communicates with a by-pass valve 25 which under normaloperating conditions is left closed and will be opened only whenever itmay be necessary to drain the sight tube v8 to replace the indicatorfluid 2i. Under such conditions, the

inlet shut-off valve I9 and the outlet shut-off valve 22 will both beclosed. The inlet shut-off valve vI9V has a tube 23 connected to theoutlet side thereof and extending to a checkvalve fitof theindicator'fluid 2l. A passage 21 in the wardly through this liquid, asindicated at 32. A pipe 33 extends downwardlyjvfromithetop-cover;

I3 to a point near the bottom of the tube 8 and serves to conduct thewaterput of thetubetotaf tube 34 which extends from the'topcover"'l3""to" the outlet shut-oir valve 22. The water is conducted fromthe Valve 22 to aTl-tting 35;,:the uil- Wardly extending branch of whichcommunicates..` 4

with the by-pass valve and a lower extending branch of whichcommunicates with the flowcontrcllvalve.v

Inoperation; vthe operator Ladjusts the iiowcontrol'wvalve/Q- whilewatchingthe ow'of drops of water"32 l'downwardly through the Yindicator2 i irrthe sight tube 3I so as to'obtaina desired-in` crease-or-decreasein the rate of'reed'of liquid chemical-reagent toA the`systern.n Thefactv that it `iswater, andV not liquid' chemical comin'gin Contact withthe indicating fluid, simpliilesrnatters `and makes it'apractical'prop'o'sition to use the' present indicator'with a largevariety of in' stallations'," without. regard to the kind of reagentemployed; and' usingthe same type'of indicator fluid'Zli'or'allof theseinstallations. TheV fact that` the "sight tube'Y assembly is'supportediatA the in'dic'ator'iiuid" There 'is no danger ofthe in.

dicator iiuid ZL'due' to its lower specific. gravity v thanwater,seeping. upwardly. out ofthe. sight 1 tube S'j'and rendering' theindicator inoperativev because,.for one thing, the inlet. tubeffextends.downwardlyv sonfar` beliiw thef-.lvel lof thelt'o'p, inlet nozzle 28;and .th'e check valveZE prevents back'flo'w byengagement withtl'eseat2,5.there. by-positively trapping the .indicator fluid 12|i`i`n thesight'tube 8, "even in the event of! a ,baelpresY sure in the. linewithy whichv the outl'tllor.. dis`- chargepipe 311i' communicates,and,ofcourse, the

w'controlvalve 9 restric'zts the flow Vin the nor,v mal direction ltosuch. anfexte'nt. that .there isno danger. at all`.of"the indicator uid.being :Washed outby the incoming water..

A .drain plug v36 is threaded into an opening in the. centervorth'eb'ottom cover I4 and asimilar plug 31is threadedvin theopening.in the top cover I3 to serve .as a ller; plug andairyent.A

Suitable. gaskets are provided lin connection with both of these plugsas indicated at .SB'lin Fig?,

to avoidolanger ofleakage. y

It Vis believed the foregoing descriptionconveys agood understanding ofthe objectsand'advanFV tages of my invention. The appended claims havebeendrawn to coverrall'legitimate modifi-f. cations andV adaptations.

I claim:

1'. A liquid chemical' treatment feed.' indicator. fr use with a tankcontainingasupply. of Iliquid. chemical to be injected intoa.water.inain',.and. a water inlet pipe anda treatment'outletpipe outletpipe extending downwardly in said sight tube to the level of the waterand communicatin'gzwithv .saidztankg'and a manually adjustable valve forregulating the rate of flow of water into said-tank from said? wateroutlet pipe.

2."'Arliduidtcliemical treatment feed indicator for use with atank'containing a supply of liquid chemicalitozbezinjected into a watermain, and a wateninlet pipe and a treatment outlet pipe forv Said'tankleading from an upstream point and to a downstream point of said main,respectvelyjssaidf indicator comprisingat'substantially vertica-lfielongatedsight tube.: 'closedi at :top and bottomL and `containing some:waterf and. above it awater -insoluble.. indicator` liquid A that'. islighter. than -water and .of" a 1L'c'onti'astingf appearance,v aninlet-portY for; water-'fin A'thelclosedtop '-ofL-said vtubecommunicating-withisaidfinlet pipe;` afwater: out-1let-'pipe-extendingfdwnwardlyin said sight'itube tothelvel .ofthe'watei:'andecmmunicating with said tank,'f avmanuallyiadjustableivalveafors-regue lating'thelrate -ofll'wffof waterl iritolfsaidy tankfrom =said"-water:foutleifpijle;k andi an outwardly seatingJcheck-lvalveflbetween-saidriinlet-pipe and the -"inlet-'- portpreventing back-flow4v fromi said .35 sigiitftube1:-to:sardiinleuipipe;ltop'onlyby, the pipe'ttingi'Yrelievesjthe sight 3? Ax drop' by VdropIliquid'Afeecl'indicator com-v prisingj in icombinationi witha'-waterlsupply-'pipe containing v-wa-ter'A underf'pressur'ef and IvaAdelivery pipe,5a=substantially vertical,=- elongated `sight tubeclosed" at top and bettonrand containingisome water L andA above it-a1water' insoluble Yindicator liquid Isth'atis lightenthan#waterV and ofiar -contrastin'g appearance;-an f inletl 'port' 'for' water in theelo-sedf-top lof` 'sa-id tube communicating with said`l` supply`pipegj'V an outwardlywseating check valve" inJ said indicator-1-in^upstreamrelation to saidi' inletJ port; aswaterfputlet J- pipeAextending downwardlynsaidsight tube `to thelevekof the water and"ycorrrrnunicatingV with"saidw delivery pipa-" and-aimanualiy' adjustablevalve for regulatingtherate' oftowoilwaterinto saiddeliverypipe`-fronr`saidrwater-outlet:piper y 4;; H ^drop"by drop liquid feedindicatorcom': prising in combination with. a watefrjsupplyjpipecontaining watenund'er' pressure? and-'a delivery pipe, a substantiallyvertical;`elongated'sight'tube closedi at" topV and '.'bottom' 'andicontaining `some water" and iab'ove." it :'awaterinsoluble :indicatorliquidthat'is lighter Ythan' water andof'affcom trasting` appearance,aninlet port forwateri. in the closedt'op ofsaid tube communic'atingwithsaid. supply. pip ea Water outlet pipe' extending downwardly? insaid'lsight itiibev to. the rlevellof the l.w'at'efr .and communicatingwith" saiddeslivery pipe, and a Hmanually' adjustable. valve.. fr.regulating the rate. of new of.. water. .into saidY .delivery pipefrom..saidlwatenzoutletrpipe.

.5. A dropbydropliduid 'feed 'indicator vcomprisingdn Ycorribinatio'nwith'awaten supplypipe conati'oneend. 'andatjitsnther. endin .a ttinginthe supply pipe f'ritlie suspensin of"said"sight tube on said Sup-plypipe, said sight tube containing some water and above it a waterinsoluble indicator liquid that is lighter than water and of acontrasting appearance, an inlet port for water in the top platecommunicating with said supply pipe, a water outlet pipe extendingdownwardly from said top plate in said sight tube to the level of thewater and communicating with said delivery pipe, a manually adjustablevalve for regulating the rate of iiow of water into said delivery pipefrom said water outlet pipe, and an outwardly seating check valve insaid top plate between said inlet pipe and the inlet port preventingback-flow from said sight tube to said inlet pipe.

6. A drop by drop liquid feed indicator comprising in combination with awater supply pipe containing water under pressure, and a delivery pipe,a substantially vertical, elongated sight tube closed at top and bottomand containing some water and above it a water insoluble indicatorliquid that is lighter than water and of a contrasting appearance, aninlet port for water in the closed top of said tube communicating withsaid supply pipe, an outwardly seating check valve in said indicator inupstream relation to said inlet port, the supply pipe having a portionthereof extending downwardly to an elevation appreciably below theelevation of the inlet port to insure maintenance of at least apredetermined column of indicator liquid in the sight tube sufficient toserve as a drop by drop feed indicator, a Water outlet pipecommunicating with the bottom water space in said sight tube and withsaid delivery pipe, and a manually adjustable valve for regulating therate of flow of water through said delivery pipe.

7. A drop by drop liquid feed indicator comprising in combination with awater supply pipe containing Water under pressure, and a delivery pipe,a substantially vertical, elongated sight tube closed at top and bottomand containing some water and above it a water insoluble indicatorliquid that is lighter than water and of a contrasting appearance, aninlet port for Water in the closed top of said tube communicating withsaid supply pipe, the supply pipe having a portion thereof extendingdownwardly to an elevation appreciably below the elevation of the inletport to insure maintenance of at least a predetermined column ofindicator liquid in the sight tube suflicient to serve as a drop by dropfeed indicator, a water outlet pipe communicating with the bottom Waterspace in said sight tube and with said delivery pipe, and a manuallyadjustable valve for regulating the rate of flow of water through saiddelivery pipe.

8. A drop by drop liquid feed indicator comprising in combination with awater supply pipe containing water under pressure, and a delivery pipe,a substantially vertical, elongated sight tube closed at top and bottomand containing some water and above it a water insoluble indioatorliquid that is lighter than water and of a contrasting appearance, aninlet port for water in the closed top of said tube communicating withsaid supply pipe, the supply pipe having a portion thereof extendingdownwardly to an elevation appreciably below the elevation of the inletport but above the level of the lower end of the water outlet pipe toinsure maintenance of at least a predetermined column of indicatorliquid in the sight tube sufficient to serve as a drop by drop feedindicator, a water outlet pipe extending downwardly in said sight tubeto the level of the water and communicating with said delivery pipe, anda manually adjustable valve for regulating the rate of flow of waterinto said delivery pipe from said water outlet pipe.

9. A drop by drop liquid feed indicator comprising in combination with awaterV supply pipe containing water under pressure, and a delivery pipe,a substantially vertical, elongated sight tube closed at top and bottomand containing some water and above it a water insoluble indicatorliquid that is lighter than Water and of a contrasting appearance, aninlet port for Water in the closed top of said tube communicating withsaid supply pipe, the supply pipe having a portion thereof extendingdownwardly to an elevation appreciably below the elevation of the inletport but above the level of the lower end of the water outlet pipe toinsure maintenance of at least a predetermined column of indicatorliquid in the sight tube suflicient to serve as a drop by drop feedindicator, an outwardly seating check valve to prevent back flow lfromsaid sight tube to said supply pipe for positively trapping theindicator liquid in the sight tube, a water outlet pipe extendingdownwardly in said sight tube to the level of the water andcommunicating with said delivery pipe, and a manually adjustable valvefor regulating the rate of flow of water into said delivery pipe fromsaid water outlet pipe.

10. A drop by drop liquid feed indicator comprising in combination witha water supply pipe containing water under pressure, and a deliverypipe, a substantially vertical, elongated sight tube, top and bottomclosure plates fixed thereon, the top plate having a blind boss, a pipethreaded therein at one end and at its other end in a tting in thesupply pipe for the suspension of said sight tube on said supply pipe,said sight tube containing some water and above it a water insolubleindicator liquid that is lighter than water and of a contrastingappearance, an inlet port for water in the top plate communicating withsaid supply pipe, a water outlet pipe extending downwardly from said topplate in said sight tube to the level of the water and communicatingwith said delivery pipe, and a manually adjustable valve for regulatingthe rate of flow of water into said delivery pipe from said water outletpipe.

ANDREW KROMHOUT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS McGill July 6, 1943

1. A LIQUID CHEMICAL TREATMENT FEED INDICATOR FOR USE WITH A TANKCONTAINING A SUPPLY OF LIQUID CHEMICAL TO BE INJECTED INTO A WATER MAIN,AND A WATER INLET PIPE AND A TREATMENT OUTLET PIPE FOR SAID TANK LEADINGFROM AN UPSTREAM POINT AND TO A DOWNSTREAM POINT OF SAID MAIN,RESPECTIVELY, SAID INDICATOR COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL,ELONGATED SIGHT TUBE CLOSED AT TOP AND BOTTOM AND CONTAINING SOME WATERAND ABOVE IT A WATER INSOLUBLE INDICATOR LIQUID THAT IS LIGHTER THANWATER AND OF A CONTRASTING APPEARANCE, AN INLET PORT FOR WATER IN THECLOSED TOP OF SAID TUBE COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET PIPE, A WATEROUTLET PIPE EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY IN SAID SIGHT TUBE TO THE LEVEL OF THEWATER AND COMMUNICATING WITH SAID TANK AND A MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE VALUEFOR REGULATING THE RATE OF FLOW OF WATER INTO SAID TANK FROM SAID WATEROUTLET PIPE.